INSIGHTS of RAVANA
Sri Lanka is a hotspot for everything, be it economics, fertiliser or any other issue. But more than anything, it is a country which is frequently embroiled in controversy.
The latest issue is the recent graduation ceremony which was held at the Colombo University where graduands made known their silent protest against the appointment of Ven. Muruththetuwe Ananada thero as the University’s Chancellor. The students, donned in their graduation attire, walked up to the monk but refused to receive their degree certificate fromhim.
The graduands had rightly decided to register their protest against appointing political stooges to key positions in the country’s premier educational institutions.
Many intellectuals appreciated the studentsdemonstration of their democratic rights within limitations. Expressing disapproval and protest against the unbecoming acts of a government is a rightful thing to do within the norms of democracy. One senior Buddhist monk expressing his sentiments on the boycott said it was the correct thing to do when rulers appoint unfit personalities to vital positions. He said that there was no harm to the buddha sasana and that even icons such as Ven. Walapola Rahula thero had also held the position of Chancellor, but with respect from the students and the academic staff.
President Gotababaya Rajapaksa, addressing a public gathering, acknowledged that the appointment of Ven. Ananda thero is linked to the unrelenting cooperation he extended to bring this government to power.
Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga also had a word of appreciation for the students who conducted themselves according to the accepted norms and within the parameters of democratic rights. It was a clear display of discontent with determination and courage and a message to the rulers. She said the conduct of the student population was appreciable in that they protested gentlemanly and in a manner that suited their educational background.
But there were monks who also criticised the students, describing the protest as a demeaning act of indiscipline by them. One Buddhist monk drew inferences with a conspiracy hatched by the Vice Chancellor and staff to embarass Ven. Ananda Thero. These monks demanded an apology from the students for causing injury to the character of a renowned monk.
Ven. Ananda thero however had said it was up to the students whether or not they wanted to accept the degree certificate from him and that it was not his concern to make a hue and cry about it. The monk wanted to downplay the issue, though social media platforms harped on it.
This is but yet another occasion where the government amply displayed its political bias when making appointments although what they professed before assuming office was something entirely different. The clean administration the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was aspiring to set up had succumbed to circumstances that had cropped up due to the sheer inefficiency of the government apparatus.
The coveted position of the Chancellor of a University has always been the purview of a person with academic distinction. The appointment of Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda thero politicised university education in the country. The most weighty and noteworthy message from the incident is that people no longer respect religious leaders with political leanings.
Be that as it may, the rumblings in the government and its decision-making process came to the fore during the week as President Rajapaksa hurriedly moved to appoint Anusha Palpita as the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media. Palpita, a Mahinda loyalist, languished in the administrative officers’ pool after having been appointed the Secretary to the Ministry of Industries following his acquittal from the “Sil Redi” case. However, due to the insistence of the Mahinda camp, the President had no option left but to appoint Anusha Palpitaas the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media. He also headed the Telecom Regulatory Commission (TRC) during the formative years of the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration.
The removal of the Agriculture Ministry Secretary Ujitha Jayasinghe was a sequel to a social media post which quoted him predicting a severe food shortage in the country in the early quarter of 2021. The Secretary said that the younger generation may be called upon to endure more sacrifices while the government’s priority is to ensure the food safety of lactating mothers, juveniles and older citizens. Jayasinghe had to quit his position in no time
The stark reality of this prediction is that a food rationing system is in the offing where the people may have to queue up for their daily bread, reminiscent of the 1970-77 era. If the government can assure ample food stocks for the people, it will be because of the credit line offered by the Indian government.
Meanwhile Vasudeva Nanayakkara, a minister who is rapidly losing his popularity among the people, boldly told the press at a briefing that the government is planning a fuel rationing system. IsNanayakkara putting the cart before the horse when he makes such pronouncements? Is he letting the cat out of the bag to embarrass the government? Will he stoop to saving his skin onlyif a worse scenario emerges due to the dollar scarcity? Why is the government not sending him to political oblivion as was done to UjithaJayasinghe? In any case, the journey of politicians of the calibre of Vasudeva is gradually coming to a finish. However, the most significant announcement above everything else is the government’s plan to implement the pricing formula introduced by then Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera. People are resentful about the government’s stance and opine they have “no shame” to bring back the formula which was ridiculed and condemned by them, saying the equation is nothing but a ploy to increase fuel prices. Gammanpila should hide his face in shame for the blatant utterances made about Mangala Samaraweera. At least DullasAllahapperuma dared to tell the truth, regretful,while acknowledging the Mangala factor and the formula. Opposition members in Parliament, EranWickramaratne in particular, did justice to Mangala Samaraweera and the fuel pricing formula with an unassailable tinge to justify his claim.
Besides, the country is groping in the dark whilewaiting for the saviour of the country’s economy Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal to bring in three billion US dollars to strengthen foreign reserves and to be able to meet debt servicing obligations on time. According to Cabraal, ‘money will come but don’t ask for the source. People are therefore surmising that it will be from Qatar since plans were afoot in 2014 for the Qatari prince to build a highway the rest of the country to connect with an archipelago in Kalpitiya. The Prince was going to use his personal money for this. Nevertheless, it was never a reality because of the sensitive nature of the project. In this predicament, there is a reason for people to believe that Cabraal’s team may have fetched some money from Qatar. What is more important, in this backdrop, is the price people have to pay in terms of these borrowings. The debt trap is mounting with no relief in sight.
The Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) in a hard-hitting criticism of the government’s financial portfolio said that the immediate tax relief that was granted to billionaires as soon as the SLPP assumed office is the root cause for this economic downturn. Ranjith Maddumabandara, the SJB’s General Secretary, said the previous UNP regime had already streamlined the country’s financial portfolio when the SLPP ran amok with the economy without considering impending external factors.
Constitution-making is yet another issue the country is facing. Tamil parliamentarians are guessing the government may introduce a Bhoomiputra style Constitution similar to that inMalaysia. The Tamil parties have shed their differences for a common cause and are working together to save the 13th amendment. The 13th amendment is significant because it devised a methodology to create Provincial Councils. Government politicians have taken an interest in the Bhoomiputra Constitution, creating suspicion among the Tamil politicians. The Tamils believe the only redress lies with India and have planned to meet with Prime minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, India and the United States are disturbed about the visit of the Chinese ambassador to Jaffna. During his visit the ambassador interacted with the local people. The diplomats of both these nations have raised their eyebrows, wondering what is going on. China has pledged relief measures to the Jaffna fishermen to woo them. The people of Jaffna were particularly interested in the relief measures promised by China as opposed to what was offered by the Indian government. They complain that the Indian fishermen plunder their fisheries resources and push them to strain their relations with the Indian government. The PR stunts which were manoeuvred by the Chinese delegation in Jaffna had more or less impressed the peasants there. The ambassador made a politically crucial move to visit the Nallur Temple, bare bodied to respect Hindu traditions and rituals which none of the Indian diplomats were able to accomplish at any point in time. The Jaffna peasants are wondering what next? –ALAKESWARA
